Clamp



C. S. CARD May 24, 1949.

CLAMP Filed April 5,

INVENTOR CHARLES J.

Patented May 24, 1949 CLAMP Charles S. Card, Cortland, N. Y., assignor to The Brewer-Kitchener Corporation, Cortland, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 5, 1946, Serial No. 659,836

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved clamp of; the-snubbing type for use with cables, conductors or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a clamp of the type having a body portion made in one piece which may be stamped from sheet or strip metal and which is particularly suitable for use with cables of the steel reenforced type such as A. C. S. R. cable 1. e. aluminum cable, steel reenforced. Cables such asthese arepr-ovided with a hard core usually steel .wire which is surrounded by strands of relatively softer wire such as aluminum. Secure and rigid clamping of cables of this type presents a somewhat more difficult problem than the clamping of a copper or copper-weld cable, due to the fact that the snubbing or frictional action of' the clamp operates on the relatively softer surface material whereas the strains, stresses and loads are carried primarily by the hard steel core.

My present invention contemplates the provisionof an improved clamp, of the above character, which is suitable for use with cable of this type particularly aluminum cable, steel re'enforced.

A further object is the provision of an improved and novel type of keeper for use with cable clamps of the above character.

Other objects include the provision of a clamp which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and simple to install and which will give satisfactory service over a long period of time with comparative freedom from wear.

Other objects will be apparent from the following detailed description of the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clamp embodying my invention, showing it applied to a cable,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

FigsSkisa cross sectional View in the direction of the arrows on the line 33 of Fig. 1,

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the two J keeper plates used in my improved keeper,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a blank from which my improved clamp may be formed,

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views showing successive steps in the manufacture of the clamp from the blank, and

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional View on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

My improved clamp comprises an elongated body member Ill of unitary construction, formed into generally looped shape as shown. The body member is provided with a curved channels'li'aped snubbing seat II which extends substantially all the way around the body member and is provided with a taut cable end at the beginning thereof and a slack cable opposite end at the end thereof. The curvature of the snubbing seatiis so arranged that the radius of curvature is-relatively smaller adjacent the'intermediate portion thereof and increases towards the taut 'cableend thereof; the slack cable end thereof beingrelatively straight.

The parts are so proportioned that when the clamp is supported in its normal manner the taut cable end of the snubbingv seat bells inwardly to a slight degree as indicatedat l2 so thatthe cable l3 entering the snubbing seat is spaced slightly from the mouth and the initial contact between the cable and the snubbing seat is a short-distance inside the mouth. This serves to protect the cable from damage resulting from normal frictional engagement with the edge or mouthof the snubbing seat, or from sharp bending over the edge thereof.

The body of. the clamp projects beyond the slack cable end of the snubbing seat and is. pro.- vided with a yoke-like extension !4 which. is off.- set downwardly from the plane of the snubbing seat and in direct engagement with the body member adjacent the taut cable end thereof, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 8. Theengagement between the yoke and the body member serves to reenforcethe snubbing seat and to resist distortion or collapsing when tension or load is applied to the cable. The yoke is offset downwardly so that the slack cable end of the snubbing seat indicated at I5 may be bent upwardly at an angle so as .to discharge thecable l3 more directly into. the keeper I6.

Projecting laterally fromthe body member at the taut cableend thereof I provide a keeper sup.- porting plate I! whichpreferably projects .upwardly at a slight angle away from the plane of the snubbing seat so as. to minimize interference with the tautcable entering the clamp. Thefor- Ward end of the keeper supporting plate is preferably provided with an aperture it with which the hook of a come-along or block-andstackle may be engagedfor tightening the cable.

Mounted on the keeper supporting platel'l is the keeper i6 consisting of a base plate l9 and a complementary top plate 26. The base plate and top plate are provided with laterally project!- ing ears 3H and 3! having apertures 32 and 33 therein for accommodating the nuts and bolt assemblies 2i used in attaching the keeper tothe plate fl and in clampin the keeper in assembled relationship. The bolts-extend through suitable apertures 22 provided in the keeper supporting plate ii. The keeper plates l9 andZll also-are provided with centrally disposed tortuous gripping channels 23 and 24 for accommodating and gripping the cable. As in Figss and5'the'channel 23 curves sharply upwardly from each end and downwardly at the center, whereas the channel 2% curves downwardly from each end and upwardly at the center. Thus, the shape of channel 24 is complementary with respect to channel 23. Plate l9 rests upon the supporting plate l! and plate 20 is disposed above the plate is with channel 24 confronting channel 23.

The cable is extended between the keeper plates in the channels 23 and Z and the nuts and bolts are tightened to firmly grip or clamp the cable in position. The curvature of the channels is such as to impart a sharp bend or set in the cable including the steel reinforcing core and this prevents accidental displacement or slippage of the cable.

The clamp is supported in the usual manner as by providing a pair of projecting cars 25 extending from opposite sides of the channel shaped keeper in spaced parallel relationship. The cars are provided with apertures 26 and with a sup" port pin 21 extending therethrough which is adapted to be connected to a conductor or other suitable support.

In using the clamp it is supported in the usual manner from an insulator by means of the supporting pin. The cable is then extended around the snubbing seat I! with the slack end thereof extending through the channels 23 and 24 of the keeper plates l9 and 20. The cable is pulled taut in the usual manner by means of a come-along hooked into the aperture Ill. The slack is taken up beyond the keeper and the nuts and bolts M are tightened with the result that the cable is firmly and securely clamped in position.

In this connection my clamp may be used with any type of cable or conductor but is particularly suitable for aluminum cable steel reinforced. The clamp is employed for the usual purposes of a cable clamp of the snubbing type usually for dead-ending cables and conductors.

My clamp may be made in any desired manner, however, it may conveniently be made from a metal stamping. In Fig. 6 I have shown a blank 30 which is stamped from sheet or strip metal. For this purpose I prefer to use steel. The blank is relatively elongated and is formed with the keeper supporting plate I 7 projecting laterally from one side thereof adjacent the forward end of the blank and the yoke It offset laterally from the blank at the opposite end thereof. At an intermediate portion which is beyond the plate 11, I provide the oppositely projecting ears 15 used in supporting the clamp. The blank is also pierced so as to provide the apertures i8, 22 and 26. Thereafter, the blank is formed and radiused as shown in Fig. 7 so as to provide an elongated snubbing seat I! and to arrange the ears 25 in spaced parallel relationship. The tail end of the body member is then bent around as shown in Fig. 8 so as to bring the yoke It into engagement with the body member adjacent the taut cable end of the snubbing seat. A suitable protective coating such as plating or galvanizing may be applied to the parts. As a final step the keeper is assembled with the clamp in the manner indicated.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that I have provided an improved clamp which may be stamped from sheet or strip metal and which is particularly suitable for clamping reenforced type of cable such as aluminum cable steel reenforced. Modifications may be made in the illustrated embodiment of my invention without departing from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A capable clamp of the snubbing type comprising a body member formed into a loop and providing an elongated curved channel-shaped snubbing seat having a taut cable end and a slack cable end, said body member being provided with a yoke-like portion extending beyond the slack cable end of the snubbing seat, said portion straddling the body member adjacent the taut cable end of the snubbing seat so as to resist distortion of the body member and means mounted by said body member for securing a cable [against movement with respect thereto.

2. A cable clamp of the snubbing type comprising an elongated body member formed into a loop providing a curved channel-shaped snubbing seat extending substantially therearound and having a taut cable end and. a slack cable end said body member being formed with a yokelike portion extending beyond the slack cable end of the snubbing seat, said portion straddling said body member adjacent the taut cable end thereof so as to resist distortion of the body member and means mounted by said body member for securing a cable against movement with respect thereto.

3. A cable clamp of the snubbing type comprising an elongated body member for-med into a loop providing a curved channel-shaped snubbing seat extending substantially therearound and having a taut cable end and a slack cable end said body member having a yoke-like portion extending beyond the slack cable end of the snubbing seat and offset laterally therefrom, said yoke-like portion straddling the body member adjacent the taut cable end of the snubbing seat so as to resist distortion of the body member and means forming a part of said clamp for securing a cable against movement with respect to the same.

4. A clamp comprising a sheet metal body bent upon itself to provide a plate portion and an element integral therewith, said element presenting in cross section an outwardly facing cablereceiving channel, said element being curved to have its end portion extend towards and be movable with respect thereto, and a. yoke part projecting from said end portion and bearing against and overlapping the adjacent plate edge to prevent displacement of the end portion of said element with respect to said plate and means mounted by said body for securing a cable against movement with respect thereto.

CHARLES S. CARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Certificate of Correction Patent N0. 2,471,306. May 24, 1949.

CHARLES S. CARD It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, line 2, claim 1, for the Word capable read cable;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of N oveinber, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant O'ommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

